South Australian prospects name their idols
GEELONG spearhead Jeremy Cameron was a popular choice among the South Australian Under 18 summer squad members when posed the question – ‘which AFL player do you mould your game on?’. The 254-game champion was selected a high of three times among the 23 surveyed top-age players.
>> SCROLL to see all the player comparisons
Cameron’s traits as a mobile, left-footed tall forward proved the perfect archetype for West Adelaide’s Mitchell Marsh, who has completed an impressive preseason. Eagles grand final hero Logan Hughes and developing Centrals tall Aidan Schubert were the others to single out Cameron as a model for their game.
Schubert’s teammates Dyson Sharp and Matthew LeRay both voiced appreciation for highly credentialed pair Patrick Cripps and Marcus Bontempelli – both being big-bodied midfielders with renowned leadership qualities. LeRay also joined Sturt’s Jett Dahlitz in using Will Day as a point of reference.
>> AFL Draft: Sharp firms as top choice among peers
While Adelaide was the most supported club amongst the SANFL Academy, Port pair Zak Butters and Miles Bergman got some love. The former was grouped with Nick Daicos as the players Blake Oudshoorn-Bennier admires, siting their ability to get out of stoppage and threat with ball in hand.
Bergman’s style was favoured by wingman/half-back Harley Barker and Norwood defender Bayln O’Brien. Barker, a member of the National Academy, also watches the running patterns of Carlton wingman Blake Acres closely and prides himself on his two-way work rate.
>> MORE: Crows the club of choice among SANFL Academy
Eagles speedster Lachlan Sands also mentioned Acres among a trio of players he looks up to. Crows recruit Alex Neal-Bullen was perhaps the most pertinent in the high half-forward role, while Jason Horne-Francis‘ prolific forward 50 stoppage work garnered Sands’ appreciation, too.
North Adelaide midfielder Sam Cumming and emerging Eagles prospect Jevan Phillipou both look towards high-flying Swan Isaac Heeney for inspiration. The pair were identified by their peers as prospects set to shine in 2025, with Cumming already a SANFL Under 18 MVP winner.
>> AFL Draft: SANFL prospects pick their breakout contenders
The only other AFL player to be brought up multiple times was Greater Western Sydney midfielder Josh Kelly. His smooth movement and sharp left foot are traits admired by Glenelg’s Luke Candy and Sturt’s Noah Roberts-Thomson. Candy is also a fan of Lachie Whitfield‘s ball use, but support’s Hawthorn.
>> TOP 10s: 2025 SANFL U18 preseason testing
PLAYER COMPARISONS
Central District:
Matthew LeRay – Will Day, Patrick Cripps, Marcus Bontempelli
Cameron Nairn – Ashton Moir, Logan Morris
Joshua Reichelt – Jack Sinclair
Aidan Schubert – Jeremy Cameron
Dyson Sharp – Patrick Cripps, Marcus Bontempelli, Jordan Dawson
Glenelg:
Luke Candy – Josh Kelly, Lachie Whitfield
North Adelaide:
Sam Cumming – Isaac Heeney
Blake Oudshoorn-Bennier – Zak Butters, Nick Daicos
Norwood:
Noah Daw – Max Michalanney
Jim Kelly – Andrew Brayshaw, Connor Rozee, Zak Butters
Bayln O’Brien – James Sicily, Miles Bergman
Will Prescott – Zac Bailey
South Adelaide:
Elliott Duffield – Darcy Moore
Sturt:
Harley Barker – Blake Acres, Miles Bergman
Jett Dahlitz – Will Day, Logan Evans
Louis Kellaway – Nick Martin
Noah Roberts-Thomson – Josh Kelly
Blake Thredgold – Josh Worrell
West Adelaide:
Mitchell Marsh – Jeremy Cameron
Woodville-West Torrens:
Jack Cook – Dayne Zorko, Darcy Wilmot
Logan Hughes – Jeremy Cameron
Jevan Phillipou – Isaac Heeney, Christian Petracca
Lachlan Sands – Alex Neal-Bullen, Jason Horne-Francis, Blake Acres
>> Q&As: Harley Barker | Matthew LeRay | Blake Oudshoorn-Bennier | Jevan Phillipou
South Australian prospects name their idols
GEELONG spearhead Jeremy Cameron was a popular choice among the South Australian Under 18 summer squad members when posed the question – ‘which AFL player do you mould your game on?’. The 254-game champion was selected a high of three times among the 23 surveyed top-age players. >> SCROLL to see all the player comparisons […]
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